Her Protector

Is It True About Riley?

New York City. April 9th, 2030. 1:45 P.M.

It was about 1:45 P.M., Riley was sitting in the living room, holding a piece of paper in her hand while looking at her phone that was laying on the coffee table, waiting for Lucas to text her or call her. She was getting nervous about what's going on with him and Agent Mayes wanting to question him. Riley was watching the news on her laptop, it was a news report about her and Lucas and the sex tape scandal. They were showing a report about it on WNBC Channel 4.

"...And for today's top story, a sex tape of famous romance novelist Riley Matthews-Gardner has been leaked. Our sources told us that Gardner was seen with New York detective Lucas Friar, the same detective who made a name for himself after assaulting a young man who was trying to get Gardner's autograph outside the studios of The Jade Pettyjohn Show. A few days ago, Gardner and Detective Friar were seen holding hands while escorting her out of the Chinese restaurant where she was the target of an assassination attempt from the militant group the New Sons of Liberty, who her mother Topanga Lawrence-Matthews was the prosecutor for the case involving the shooting death of New Sons of Liberty member Leo Vorgitch." Reporter Jack Champion said as Riley turned off the video and closed her laptop, then she started to hear someone knocking on the door. She quickly picked up the butcher knife that she had sitting underneath the couch pillow for protection just in case Scalisi comes back. Riley got up from off of the couch and walked over to the door, peeking through the peephole only to see Lucas standing in front of the door as she quickly unlocked the door to let him in.

"Lucas, thank god you're alright. I was worried sick about you." Riley said, hugging Lucas tightly with a great big bear hug while holding the knife in her hand. Lucas breaks away from the hug, only to notice the knife in Riley's hand.

"Riley, put the knife away. You'll try to hurt me with it." Lucas said.

"Sorry, Lucas. I guess I'm just scared about Scalisi coming back to finish the job." Riley said as she sits the knife down on the kitchen counter. "I cannot believe what's going on right now. The news is talking about me and you and that sex tape that was leaked. My career is going to be ruined. Mom and dad found out about what's going on after watching the news, and let's not forget my manager Karma and my publisher Skylar. Lucas, what am I going to do?"

"Riley, we need to talk." Lucas said, holding Riley's hand, then walked away from her as Riley feared what's going on with him.

"Lucas, what's going on? Did you speak to Agent Mayes and internal affairs?" Riley asked as Lucas stood by the window.

"I did. And I spoke with the captain and Mayor Lomax. They suspended me." Lucas said.

"What? They can't do that. You're a good detective. Just because a sex tape was leaked doesn't mean for them to suspend you...." Riley said.

"Riley, would you please just listen to me for a second? There's something that you need to know. Just, sit down." Lucas said, leading Riley over to the couch. The duo sat down on the couch, with Lucas holding Riley's hand and gazed deeply into her brown eyes. "Riley, you need to listen to me and you need to listen good. I can't be around you anymore."

Riley felt her heart shatter into tiny little pieces from hearing Lucas' news.

"Wha...what? I can't believe what I'm hearing. Are you saying that you can't protect me anymore from Scalisi? After all we've been through together. You tell me that you love me and you sleep with me and then you protect me from certain death and you're telling me that you can't protect me anymore. Oh, let me guess, it's the NYPD's idea to protect their image." Riley said.